Toy railroad track and electric wire terminals therefor



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Aprrifl W, F. c. zuEsENHEiM TOY RAILROAD TRACK AND ELECTRIC WIRE TERMINALS THEREFOR Filed 001:. 20, 1932' Patented Apr. 7, 1936 UNlTED TOY RAILROAD TRACK AND ELECTRIC WIRE TERlVENALS THEREFOR Pennsylvania Application October 20, 1932, Serial No. 638,82l

18 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in toy railroad track and the like, and has particular reference to electric wire terminal means in association therewith.

Heretofore the electric: wire terminals applied to toy railroad tracks have been mounted on a fibre base and involved the use of clip elements for engaging the rails. This terminal means of the prior art is not only expensive to manufacture, but the clip elements frequently get out of shape and fail to make a proper electrical contact with the rails. Furthermore, the clip elements are exposed, as are the wires, so that in the event that the toy train be derailed, the clip elements, which secure the wires, and which also engage the rails are likely to be injured or the wires pulled out.

It is, therefore, the primary object of my invention to provide a novel and improved terminal member which obviates the necessity of the fibre base with the attendant expense thereof and other objections heretofore noted.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel terminal element which incorporates a shield element for carrying and protecting the terminal engaging element.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel terminal element and rail construction whereby the terminal element will be gripped in place by a rail,there being no clip elements exposed to be bent out of shape and result in faulty electrical contact with the rail.

The invention also resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of the various parts, and in modes of use,-a1l of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying drawing in connection with the detailed description that follows.

In recognition of the requirements of the patent statutes I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing what appears to be a preferred example of the invention. However, it will be understood that the same is susceptible of considerable change and modification within the spirit and scope of the subject matter claimed hereinafter.

In the drawing, wherein the same reference characters have been used to designate the same parts in all views:--

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a straight section of track incorporating my novel electric wire terminal construction;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of a section of track and illustrating two of my terminal elements associated therewith;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional View of a curved section of track to which the invention has been applied and which illustrates the terminal device in cross-section, and also shows the stepped tie construction so that the tread portions of the rails will be banked, so to speak, to prevent the derailing of the train;

Figure 4 is an elevational view taken on the plane il of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the novel terminal element detached.

Referring specifically to the drawing, numeral t denotes the tie elements of the straight track section illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and which support the side and intermediate rails 8, 9,- there being the clip portions l engaging the base flanges x of the rails as usual.

The rails and ties are made out of sheet metal, as usual, although other forms of construction may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the invention. Insulation iii is adapted to insulate the third or intermediate rail 9 from the ties 5, as indicated in Figures 1 and 3. The usual pin extensions l l serve to connect adjacent track sections.

Coming now to the novel terminal element l2, illustrated in Figure 5, it will be noted that the same comprehends an upstanding attaching flange or portion l3 whose bottom is laterally bent, as indicated at lie. The portion i311 turns upwardly to provide the wall it which is spaced from and parallel to the wall or flange portion it so as to provide the groove l5, which is adapted to receive one base flange :1: of the track section 8 or 9,--the upstanding flange it being insertable into the slot y opening from the bottom of the rails between the base portions :0. Thus, the stock forming the two sides of the web portion of the rails t, 9, embrace the flange it so as to make a good electrical contact.

In Figure 3 the rails are designated as at 8a, 9(tthlS depicting a curved instead of a straight section of track. The construction of the rails ta, 9a, is, however, aside from the curvature the same as the construction of the rails 8, 9, of Figures 1, 2, and 4.

The wall or portion M of the terminal memhers I?! is shorter than the wall or flange it, as clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, and is bent laterally to provide the shield or contactcarrying portion it which carries at its under surface the means for engaging and holding the circuit wire terminals.

Figure 5 illustrates very clearly that the clip plate H, is disposed flatly against the under surface of the horizontal flange or portion 16 of the member means of the rivet IS, or the like. It is to be noted, in this connection, that the rear end of the clip plate I1 is provided with an upstruck lug Ila: which engages the adjacent end of the horizontal shield portion I6 so as to prevent the clip plate I! from swinging relatively of the shield or portion l6. Therefore, the clip member or plate H will be held fast in position by the simple expedient of the rivet l8 and the lug Has.

The clip plate I! is bent rearwardly, as indicated at Ila, to provide the clip portion. HZ), whose intermediate portion is transversely humped in the direction of shield I6. The portion Ill) of the clip member I! has a slot 20 at the site of the hump llc,which slot is adapted to receive the V-shaped tongue 19 which is formed integral with the clip plate [1. Thus, a wire terminal 2! can be locked in place by the outward spring action of the clip portion llb which draws the wire terminal against the apex of the portion l9,all as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

The outer end of the portion l'lb serves as a handle for moving such portion llb toward the portion I? when it is desired to pull the wire El out of engaged position, or when it is desired to insert a wire into the position shown in Figure 5. The particular form of clip is not new and its Operation is well known.

The tongue or member l9 need not necessarily be integral with the member H, but may be attached and secured thereto, as for instance, by the rivet or other fastening element I8.

The member I2 is preferably a stamping made from sheet metal, but obviously it may take the form of a casting, or be otherwise formed.

A special note is taken of the fact that the clip-carrying and concealing shield I8 is disposed substantially below the plane of the upper edge of the flange or attaching portion [3 which goes into the slot between the sides which define the web of the rail. Thus, the contact wires are disposed so that their terminals will be protected and concealed in the event that the locomotive should become derailed. Furthermore, the wires 2| are. so disposed that they may readily be led out beneath the rails, the insulation 2 la on the wires serving to prevent the wires Hi from engaging the bases of the rails and producing a short circuit.

It will also be evident that the use of a terminal element i 2, such as I have disclosed herein, will enable the track section to be moved without likelihood of loosening the terminals. as is the case where a fibre plate is used which engages the floor or sticks out laterally of the track so as to be prone to be knocked against as the track sections are moved, or when the operator changes position in playing with the set.

In Figure 3 it will be noted that I have illustrated the ties Ea as provided with steps of increasing height so that the rails 8a. will have their tread portions located at different levels so as to provide a'banked turn. The third rail 9ais supported on an intermediate step, while the outer rail 8a is supported on the higher step 23, the intermediate step being designated as at 22.

i2 and is secured thereto by One important point to be noted is that should a car be derailed at the site of terminal carrier [2 and strike the flange l6 thereof, there will be a tendency to rock or bind flange l3 in slot 1 rather than to pull it therefrom. It is further to be noted that the contact-carrying guard plate 16, as shown in Figure 1, extends more than half way between the rails 8 and 9 and of course if desired it can be extended further toward the rail 8 than is shown. The guard plate [6 therefore affords substantial protection for the wire Zia as indicated in Figs. 1 and'3 and likewise in Fig. 2.

It is believed that the novel features of construction and advantages thereof will be seen readily from the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination of a sheet metal toy railroad rail or the like bent to provide a tread, a base and doubled web portions, there being a slot extending through said base portion and between the web portion sides, a wire terminalcarrying member having an upstanding flange insertable into said slot, and the sides of the doubled web portion of the rail yieldingly and frictionally engaging said flange portion to hold the same in place.

2. The combination of a sheet metal toy railroad rail or the like bent to provide a tread, a base and doubled web portion, there being a slot extending through said base portion and between the web portion sides, a wire terminalcarrying member having an upstanding flange insertable'into said slot, the web portion sides yieldingly and frictionally engaging said flange portion to hold the same in place, said terminal-carrying member having a horizontal shield portion below the level of the tread portion of the rail, and a terminal wire-engaging element carried beneath the shield portion.

3. A wire terminal carrier connection for electric toy rail road track and the like, comprising a body providing a rail-carried portion, a laterally extending shield spaced clear of the rail carried portion and its rail, and wire terminal engaging means associated with said carrier body and disposed below and protected by said shield.

4. A wire terminal carrier connection for electric toy rail road track and the like, comprising a rail-carried portion, a laterally extending shield spaced clear of the rail carried portion and its rail, and wire terminal engaging means carried by said shield atthe undersurface thereof.

5. A wire terminal carrier connection for electric toy rail road track and the. like, comprising a body providing a rail-carried portion, including a rail seat in part provided by said rail carried portion, a laterally extending shield spaced from said rail carried portion and carried by a wall of said seat, and wire terminal engaging means associated with said carrier body and disposed below and protected by said shield.

6. A wire terminal carrier connection for electric toy rail road track and the like, comprising a body providing a rail-carried portion including a rail seat having side walls, a rail-engaging holding member incorporated in said seat and providing one side wall thereof, a laterally extending shield carried by the other side wall of said seat, and wire terminal engaging means associated with said carrier and disposed below and protected by said shield.

7. A wire terminal carrier for toy rail road track and the like, comprising a sheet metal blank bent to provide a flange insertable into a slot formed in a toy railway rail throughout its length and thereby securing the carrier to the rail, a rail seat for limiting insertion of the flange into a rail slot and having sides, one side of said seat being provided by said flange and the other side of said seat being substantially parallel with said flange and terminating short of the plane of the top of said flange, said last-mentioned side having an outwardly projecting shield, a leaf flatly contacting the bottom of said shield providing cooperating wire engaging portions, and securing means for said leaf comprising a single fastener on said shield and a lug on the leaf engaging an edge of the shield.

8. A wire terminal carrier fortoy rail road track and the like, comprising a sheet metal blank bent to provide a flange insertable into a slot formed in a toy railway rail throughout its length and thereby securing the carrier tothe rail, a rail seat for limiting insertion of the flange into a rail slot and having sides, one side of said seat being provided by said flange and the other side of said seat being substantially parallel with said flange and terminating short 'of the plane of the top of said flange, said lastmentioned side having an outwardly projecting shield, and wire-carrying means on the lower side of the shield.

9. The combination of a sheet metal toy railroad rail or the like having a slot opening upwardly through its base, a wire terminal member comprising a body having a flange portion insertable in said rail slot and adapted to be insiliently gripped thereby, a laterally extending wire carrying and protecting shield incorporated in said body, the body being formed to provide a seat portion connecting said flange portion and shield, said seat portion being engageable with and receiving a portion of the rail base for limiting insertion of said flange portion into said slot, and said wire carrying and protecting shield extending away from said rail and below the plane of the tread thereof.

10. The combination of a sheet metal toy railroad rail or the like having a slot opening upwardly through its base, and a wire terminal member having an attaching flange insertable in said rail slot and adapted to be resiliently gripped thereby.

11. The combination of a sheet metal toy railroad rail or the like having a slot opening up wardly through its base, a wire terminal member having an attaching flange insertable in said rail slot and adapted to be resiliently gripped thereby, a shield flange on said member and projecting therefrom laterally of the attaching flange, and wire terminal holder means. carried by and beneath said shield flange.

12. The combination of a sheet metal toy railroad rail or the like having a slot opening upwardly through its base, a wire terminal member having an attaching flange insertable in said rail slot and adapted to be resiliently gripped thereby, a shield flange on said member and extending therefrom laterally of said attaching flange, and a wire terminal contact clip secured to the under face of said shield flange and covered thereby.

13. The combination of a sheet metal toy railroad rail or the like having a slot opening upwardly through its base, a wire terminal member having an attaching flange insertable in said rail slot and adapted to be resiliently gripped thereby, a rail base engageable seat provided in said member and formed in part by said attaching flange, and wire engaging means carried by said member at one side of said seat.

14. The combination of a sheet metal toy railroad rail or the like having a slot opening upwardly through its base, a wire terminal member having an attaching flange insertable in said rail slot and adapted to be resiliently gripped thereby, and said member extending laterally of the attaching flange beneath the rail to a point offset therefrom.

15. The combination of a sheet metal toy railroad rail or the like having a slot opening upwardly through its base, a wire terminal member having an attaching flange insertable in said rail slot and adapted to be resiliently gripped thereby, said flange having an extension projecting laterally therefrom, and wire terminal holder means connected to said extension at a point ofiset from the rail.

16. A connector for making detachable electrical connections to a sheet metal toy railroad track rail having a slot opening upwardly through its base, said connector including a short thin upright blade adapted to be inserted upwardly in said rail slot and to be resiliently gripped thereby, and an extension on said strip bent sidewardly therefrom to underlie the track rail.

17. The combination with a toy railroad track section, said section including a plurality of rails held in spaced parallel formation by ties, each of said rails being made of sheet metal bent downwardly to form a head portion and a double web portion, of a connector making electrical connection to one of the rails of said track, the said connector including a thin, short upright blade inserted upwardly from. beneath the rail into the slit between the sides of the Web of the rail and resiliently gripped thereby, and an extension extending from said blade sidewardly beneath the track section to a point outside the track section.

18. The combination with a toy railroad rail, said rail being made of sheet metal bent downwardly to form a head portion and a double Web portion, of a connector making electrical connec tion to said rail, said connector including a thin, short upright blade inserted upwardly from beneath the rail into the slit between the sides of the web of the rail and resiliently gripped thereby, an extension on said strip bent sidewardly to a point offset from the rail, and a Wire terminal holder connected to said extension.

' FRED C. ZIESENI-IEIM. 

